Glory days: Netcompany-Ineos start the long battle to revive past Grand Tour success at the Giro d'Italia

Netcompany-Ineos has commenced its Giro d'Italia campaign, marking the first Grand Tour appearance under its new co-title sponsorship. The team enters with a dual leadership strategy, placing their hopes on former Giro winner Egan Bernal and Dutch talent Thymen Arensman to navigate the three-week race. This strategic pivot aims to rekindle the squad's once-dominant Grand Tour form, which has seen a noticeable dip in recent seasons.

This Giro represents a crucial juncture for the team, whose Grand Tour supremacy has waned since their last victory at the 2021 Giro with Bernal. The co-leadership approach, a familiar tactic from their Sky days, signals an attempt to maximize chances while acknowledging neither rider is currently at peak, undisputed leader status. For Bernal, it's a test of his enduring recovery; for Arensman, a chance to step into a bigger role after a promising 2023.

Whether this re-branding and leadership gamble pays off remains to be seen. One might suggest that a new name alone won't magically restore the Midas touch, but the peloton will certainly be watching to see if the GC fortunes turn.